Opener guards



c. c. wlLM OPENER GUARDS Jan. 7, 1958 INVENTOR. CARL C. \/V\| M oPENERGUAnns Carl C. Wilm, Denver, Colo., assigner to Magnex, Inc., Denver,Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application February 26, 1957, SerialNo. 642,512

6 Claims. (Cl. Sti-16) 'This invention relates to a guard or shield fora contamer opener; more particularly, the invention relates to a shieldsuitable for use in conjunction with conventional punch-type canopeners.

In modern practice, many beverages and other liquids are packaged inmetal containers or cans which, when it is desired to dispense thecontents, are opened with a punch-type opener. The conventionalpunch-type opener lncludes a handle, a fulcrum lug which engages the rimof the can, and a triangular punch element which forces a triangularsegment of the can lid downwardly into the can to afford a pouringopening. With many beverages and other liquids, however, pressure withinthe can may cause the contents thereof to spew forth to a greater orlesser extent `if the can is opened. This is particularly true ofcarbonated and malt beverages, including beer and ale, especially whenthe carbon-dioxide-containing liquid is relatively warm or has beenagitated to some extent prior to opening. This can be most distressingto the person opening the can, particularly in those instances when thepressure is great enough to cause the discharged liquid to spray over asubstantial distance.

In the past, a number of proposals have been advanced relating toshields or guards for preventing the spray from liquid containers openedwith a punch-type opener from endangering the clothing of the personmanipulating the openers. In general, these previously known shield orguard devices have been relatively complex and expensive and/or haverequired some modification of the opener itself in order to functionproperly. inasmuch as openers of this type are relatively standardizeddevices and are extremely inexpensive, the aforesaid previously knownguards have not been widely used.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is a new and improvedguard or shield device for a punch-type container opener.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved guard or shield for a punch type can opener which may bemounted upon the can opener without requiring any modification of theopener itself and which does not require any positive action on the partof the user to maintain the guard in place.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedpunch-type opener guard which is extremely simple and inexpensive inconstruction.

A. corollary object of the invention is a guard for a container openerof the type including both a punch-type opening device and a hook-typeopener which permits effective operation of both portions of the openerwithout removal of the guard.

Thus, the invention relates to a guard for a container opener of thetype comprising a handle of given dimensions, a punch extending from oneend of the handle, and a fulcrum lug extending from the handle at apoint adjacent the base of the punch. A guard constructed in accordancewith the invention comprises a relatively thin, flexible, non-absorbentbase member having a length substantially greater than the overalllength of the opener;

asistan Patented `lan. 7, l1958 this base member includes a handlesection generally corresponding in dimensions to the handle of theopener and a shield section which extends from one end of the basemember handle section and which preferably is substantially wider thanthe handle section. A first retainer strap is aliixed to and extendsacross the major portion of the handle section of the base member. Arelatively narrow second retainer strap extends across the handlesection of the base member at the end thereof adjacent the shieldsection. Preferably, the two retainer straps are afforded simply byaffixing to the base member a second similar thin, flexible,non-absorbent member and slitting the latter transversely of its handlesection to define the desired straps. The two retainer straps and thehandle section of the base member engage the handle, lug, and punchelements of the opener to mount the guard in predetermined position onthe opener.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shows preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatl now consider to be the best mode in which l have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a can opener guard constructed in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a slightly modified embodiment of the inventionshowing a conventional can opener mounted therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the can opener guard of Fig. 2 taken alongline 3 3 therein;

Fig. 4 is an elevation view showing the can opener and shield of Fig. 2in operative position; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a structural detail relating to use of the hook typeportion of the can opener.

The can opener guard fr@ illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a base member11 having a handle section 12 and a shield section i3 which extends fromthe upper end of the handle section as seen in the drawings. Base member11 is formed from a relatively thin, flexible, non-absorbent material,preferably one which is relatively light in weigl'rt. More specifically,the base member may be conveniently and inexpensively fabricated fromvinyl plastic material or other suitable plastics which are notdetrimentally affected by beverages or other liquids with which apunchtype can opener is normally used. A liquid-proof fabric may also beemployed for this purpose, but is not particularly desirable in rnostinstances since it `usually adds to the cost of the guard withoutproviding any marked irnprovement in operation.

The guard 10 further includes a first retainer strap 14 which is affixedto the handle section 12 of base member 11 and which extends across themajor portion of handle section 12. A second and relatively narrowretainer strap 15 is affixed to and extends across base member handlesection 12 at the end thereof immediately adjacent the shield section13. The retaining straps 14 and 15 may be conveniently and economicallyformed by affixing to base member 11 a second guard member 16 which isessentially similar in configuration and structural characteristics tothe base member 11. The two members 11 and 16 are affixed to each otherabout their peripheries by heat-sealing, in the case of plastics, or bysewing or other suitable means if water proofed fabrics are utilized inconstructing the two members. The member 16 is slit as indicated in thedrawings at 3 17, 18 and 19 to afford the desired retainer straps 14 and15.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a container opener 2() mounted in operative positionin a guard A which is essentially similar to the guard it) of Fig. lwith the exception that guard 10A is provided with a permanent magnet 21mounted on the shield section 13 of the guard at the end thereofopposite handle section 12. The can opener 20 is of conventional formand includes a handle 21, a triangular punch 22 extending from one endof the handle, and a fulcrum lug 23 extending from the handle at a pointadjacent to but spaced from the base of the punch 22. Opener 2t) mayalso include a conventional hook-type crown opener 24, it being commonpractice to combine this type of opener with the punch opener in devicesintended for use in connection with carbonated beverages.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the opener 2t) is mounted in the guard 10 or10A by sliding the handle portion 21 of the opener underneath the firstretaining strap 14 of the guard and by engaging the second retainerstrap 15 between the punch 22 and the fulcrum lug 23. With the guardthus mounted on the opener, the opener cannot slip free of the guardduring normal usage. Consequently, no effort upon the part of the useris required to maintain the shield in operative relation to the opener.Preferably, the handle portion 12 of the shield is fabricated withdimensions generally corresponding to the dimensions of the handleportion of the opener in order to limit lateral movement of the openerwith respect to the shield as much as possible and prevent it fromsliding out of engagement with the shield straps. Moreover, the firstretaining strap 1d is preferably made somewhat shorter than the handleportion 21 of the opener 2t). This makes it possible to fold back theend 26 of the shield, as illustrated in Fig. 5, exposing the hook-typeopener 2d for effective use without requiring removal of the shield fromthe opener. It will of course be apparent that if the opener does notinclude a hook opener element it is not necessary that the retainingmember or strap 14 be limited in length in this manner.

Fig. 4 shows the opener 2@ and shield 10A in operative relation to acontainer 30. To open the lid 31 of the can 3d, it is only necessary topivot the opener 20 in a clockwise direction about the fulcrum adordedby the rirn-engaging lug 23 in the usual manner to drive the punchelement 22 of the opener through the can lid. If the contents of the canare under pressure and are forced from the can during the openingprocess, the liquid is prevented from escaping in an upward direction byshield portion 13 of the guard 10A which preferably covers substantiallyall of the can lid 31. The permanent magnet 21 serves to retain theshield portion 13 of the guard in position above the can lid 31. Thepermanent magnet is not essential in this regard, however, since theweight of the shield portion 13 is more than suiiicient to hold theshield portion in proper position in the opening of beverages and likeliquids. Thus, in normal operation of the opener the two guards 10 and10A are essentially similar to each other. The permanent magnet 21 ishighly advantageous, however, in that it aords a very convenient meansfor hanging the opener up when it is not in use. Moreover, if the shieldsection 13 of the guard 10A is folded over the punch 22 as indicated bydash outline 13A in Fig. 3, the magnet secures the shield in foldedposition, being attracted to the opener 2th. In this position, shieldsection 13 forms a protective guard for the point of the punch andpermits carrying the opener in the users pocket, purse, or the likewithout danger thereto from the punch.

The can opener guard of the invention is extremely inexpensive andsimple in construction, particularly when fabricated from two sheets ofvinyl or similar plastics as described hereinabove in connection withFig. 1. The can opener may be permanently mounted within the guardwithout requiring any modification of the opener itself; for example, itis not necessary to alix rivets or other fastening devices to the openeror to provide apertures in the opener for receiving such fasteners. Theguard is highly etfective in containing and detlecting downwardly anyliquid which may be discharged from a container during the openingprocess and thereby avoids the substantial inconvenience frequentlyencountered from use of this type of an opener, particularly withcarbonated beverages.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited tothe precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A guard for a container opener of the type comprising a handle ofgiven dimensions, a punch extending from one end of the handle, and afulcrum lug extending from the handle adjacent the base of the punch,said guard comprising a relatively thin, flexible, non-absorbent basemember substantially greater in length than the overall length of theopener, said base member including a handle section having dimensionsgenerally corresponding to the dimensions of the opener handle and ashield section extending from one end of the handle section, a firstretainer strap aiiixed to and extending across the major portion of thehandle section of the base member, and a relatively narrow secondretainer strap extending across the handle section of the base member atthe end thereof adjacent the shield section, the two retainer straps andthe handle section of the guard being adapted to engage the handle, lug,and punch elements of the opener to mount the guard in predeterminedposition on the opener.

2. A guard for a container opener of the type comprising a handle ofgiven dimensions, a punch extending from one end `of the handle, afulcrum lug extending from the handle adjacent the base of the punch,Iand a hook-type crown opener extending from the end of the `openerhandle opposite the punch, said guard comprising a relatively thin,exible, non-absorbent base member substantially greater in length thanthe overall length of the opener, said base member including a handlesection having dimensions generally corresponding to the dimensions ofthe opener handle and a shield section extending from one end of thehandle section, a tirst retainer strap affixed to and extending acrossthe major portion of the handle section of the base member and having awidth no greater than the length of the opener handle, and a relativelynarrow second retainer strap extending across the handle section of thebase member at the end thereof adjacent the shield section, the tworetainer straps and the handle section of the guard being adapted toengage the handle, lug, and punch elements of the opener to mount theguard in predetermined position on the opener.

3. A guard for a container opener `of the type comprising a handle ofgiven dimensions, a punch extending from one end of the handle, and afulcrum lug extending from the handle adjacent the base of the punch inspaced relation thereto, said guard comprising a relatively thin,ilexible, non-absorbent base member substantially greater in length thanthe overall length of the opener, said base member including a handlesection having dimensions generally corresponding to the dimensions `ofthe opener handle, and a shield section, substantially wider than thehandle section, extending from one end of the handle section, a firstretainer strap atiixed to and extending across the major portion of thehandle section of the base member, and a relatively narrow secondretainer strap extending across the handle section of the base member atthe end thereof adjacent the shield section, first retainer strap andthe handle section of the guard being adapted to engage the handle andlug elements of the opener and the second retainer strap and the handlesection of the guard being adapted to engage the punch and lug elementsof the opener to mount the guard in predetermined position on theopener.

4. A guard for a container opener of the type comprising a handle ofgiven dimensions, a punch extending from one end of the handle, and afulcrum lug extending from the handle ladjacent the base of the punch,said guard comprising a pair of relatively thin, exible, non-absorbentguard members of similar coniguration each substantially greater inlength than the overall length of the opener affixed to each other abouttheir peripheries, said members each including a handle section havingdimensions generally corresponding to the dimensions of the openerhandle and a shield section extending from one end vof the handlesection, one of said members being slit transversely of its handlesection to aiord a rst retainer strap axed to and extending across themajor portion of the handle section of the guard `and a relativelynarrow second retainer strap extending across the handle section of theguard at the end thereof adjacent the shield section, the two retainerstraps and the handle section of the other guard member being adapted toengage the handle, lug, and punch elements of the opener to mount theguard in predetermined position on the opener.

5. A guard for a container opener of the type comprising a handle ofgiven dimensions, a punch extending from one end of the handle, and afulcrum lug extending from the handle adjacent the base of the punch,said guard comprising a pair of guard members of relatively thin,flexible, plastic substantially greater in length than the overalllength of the opener and peripherally sealed to each other, said memberseach including a handle section having dimensions generallycorresponding to the dimensions of the opener handle and a shieldsection extending from one end of the handle section, one of saidmembers being slit transversely of its handle section to afford a rstretainer strap afxed to and extending across the major portion of thehandle section of the guard and having la width no greater than thelength of the opener handle, and a relatively narrow second retainerstrap extending across the handle section of the guard at the endthereof adjacent the shield section, the two retainer straps and thehandle section of the -other guard member being aadpted to engage thehandle, lug, and punch elements of the opener to mount the guard inpredetermined position on the opener.

6. A guard for a container opener of the type comprising a handle ofgiven dimensions, a punch extending from one end 4of the handle, and afulcrum lug extending from the handle adjacent the base of the punch,said guard comprising a relatively thin, exible, non-absorbent basemember substantially greater in length than the overall length of theopener, said base member including a handle section having dimensionsgenerally corresponding to the dimensions 4of the opener handle and ashield section extending from one end of the handle section, a rstretainer strap 'afhxed to and extending across the major portion of thehandle section of the base member, a relatively narrow second retainerstrap extending across the handle section of the base member at the endthereof adjacent the shield section, the two retainer straps and thehandle section of the guard Ibeing adapted -to engage the handle, lug,and punch elements of the opener to mount the guard in predeterminedposition on the opener, and a permanent magnet mounted on the shieldsection of the base member at the end thereof opposite the handlesection.

No references cited.

